In an unprecedented partnership, secondary teachers, students and parent groups have come together to press for more funding for second-level education.
A budget submission to the Ministers for Education and Finance was made yesterday by the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI), the National Parents' Council (Post-Primary) the Union of Secondary Students of Ireland.
All three parties have called on the Government to address "the major deficits" in the funding of Irish second-level education.
The submission points out several problems, including;
In their joint submission the three parties say: "Parents, students and teachers require that steps be taken in the next budget to address the deficits in Irish second-level education.
"The Lisbon agenda and the demands of the knowledge-based society mean that we can no longer have second-level education on the cheap.
"Significant progress must be made in the next budget to fund Irish second-level education so that our 12 to 19-year-olds can realise their potential."
Minister for Education Mary Hanafin is also under intense pressure from the INTO to reduce class size in primary schools. Sources say this is likely to be the Government's main education priority in the budget.
